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Please note
This unit has now been updated for Summer 2026. There have been no changes to the Progression of knowledge, skills and key vocabulary documents.
Unit outcomes
Pupils who are secure will be able to:
- Sequence the key periods of the Ancient Maya civilisation.
- Identify periods that were happening in Britain at the same time.
- Explain how the Ancient Maya settled in the rainforest and the challenges they faced.
- Describe Ancient Maya beliefs.
- Name the features of the Ancient Maya cities.
- Make deductions about the Ancient Maya cities.
- Evaluate the reasons for the decline of the Maya civilisation.
- Understand the importance of archaeologists, archivists and historians in constructing our understanding of the past.
Suggested prior learning
British history 3: What changed in Britain after the Anglo-Saxon invasion?
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Lessons
Lesson 1: How did the ancient Maya settle in a rainforest?
Lesson 2: What do remains tell us about ancient Maya cities?
Lesson 3: What did the ancient Maya believe?
Lesson 4: How did the Maya reflect world beliefs in their inventions?
Lesson 5: How important was cacao to the ancient Maya?
Lesson 6: What caused the decline of the ancient Maya cities?
Key skills
- Using BC/AD/Century.
- Placing the time
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Key knowledge
To know:
- History is divided
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Key vocabulary
achievement
afterlife
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Subject resources
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Cross-curricular opportunities
English: Spoken language; Reading – comprehension.
Geography: Human and physical geography; Geographical skills and fieldwork.
Science: Working scientifically.
Build on the learning
British history 4: Were the Vikings raiders, traders or something else?
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